Apparatus for refining hydrocarbon materials



June l ,1926.

F. `M. FLOYD APPARATUS FOR REFINNG HYDROCARBON MATERIALS Filed May 19. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l wwmuqrm ASU...

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F. \M. ELOYD v K APPARATUS FOR REFINING HYDROCARBON MATERIALS Filed May 19. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June l, 1926.

` 1,587,310 PATENT OFFICE-.

rmx u. FLOYD,

OF DALLAS, TEXAS.

APPARATUS FOR REFINING HYDROCARBON MATERIALS.

Application tiled May 19, 1922. Serial No. 562,135.

This invention relates-to an improved apparatus for the refining o-f hydrocarbon maL .terials An object of this invention is the provision of an apparatus for the treatment of hydrocarbon materials, so designed as to permit of a lcontinuous process capable of operatin over a relatively long period of time wit out injury or 'deterioration to any of the individual units of said apparatus.

A further object of the invention isthe provision of a refining apparatus of the above mentioned character, including an imf proved distilling chamber having Athe bot- 1.5l tom thereof so protected from the liability of carbon deposits that the same may be opelated for a relatively long period of time.

A further and important object of this invention is the provision of a novel ty e of reflux condenser designed to handle un eated supplies of hydrocarbon products for m1- tial treatment by the heated hydrocarbon vapors passing therethrough; saidyapors and the unheated hydrocarbon liquid-being so separated as to prevent any liability of the association of the ingredients of one with the ingredients of the other.

A further object of the invention is the provision of .an improved refining apparatus designed from a practical and economical standpoint to produce a relatively great yield ofthe more volatile'fraction of a hydrocarbon material.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent-during the course of the following detailed description. Y l

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, l y Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved apparatus showingparts thereof in section.

Figure 2 is a transverse cross sectional view taken through a still embodied in the improved a paratus.

' Figure 3 1s an enlarged fragmentary view, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Fi ure 4 is an enlar ed fragmentary sectiona view, showing t e manner in which several parts of the ystill are cooperatively positioned.

Figure 5' is'atransversi': cross sectional view taken through a reflux condenser and showing the cooperating parts thereof.

In the drawings, wherein for the pur ose of illustration is shown the preferred em odiment of this invention, the letter A generically designates the apparatus including a still B; furnace C; reflux condenserl); con denser E; gas separatorF; receiving tank G;gas storage tank H; and cooling container K.

The still B is preferably of the horizontal cylindrical type supported above the .fire box 10 of the furnace C. Crude petroleum or the desired hydro-carbon'material isinitially supplied to the chamber 11l of the still B through a charging line 12; said hydroc arbon material being forced through` the llne 12 as by a pump 13. vA meter 14 maybe connected 1n the line 12 to determine the volumel of hydro-carbon liquid passing into the chamber 11. A cut off valve 15 is preferably positioned in the charging line 12 for regulating the initial flow of hydrocarbon material lnto the chamber 11. The ordinary accessories may be mounted upon the still B, such as man holes 17 provided in the forward and rear end plates 18 and 19 of the still B. A pressure gauge 20 may be provided in the forward plate 18, as may also .a temperature gauge 21.

It is well known to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains that the still B in which destructive distillation takes place can be operated but a short length of time, due to the fact that carbon deposits settle in the chamber 11 upon the bottom of still B, and form a caked mass, which becomes over-heated, so that the heat units do not roperly affect the liquid hydrocarbon foristilling purposes. In order to prevent.

the detrimental results incident to settling of carbon deposlts directly upon the bottom of the st ill B, a screen 22 is provided, of eX44 tremely fine mesh, preferably one hundrd*` or one hundred and twenty meshes to tu square inch, which is mounted adjacent,` the 'bottom of the stilll B, so lthat any within the still B incident to' distillation will settle thereon and be held in spaced relation to thesurface of the chamber 11. The screen 22 is provided for the entire length of the chamber 11, including the stri s 23 at the sides thereof which are rovide with openings 23 for receiving t e hooks 24 of the screen vsupportlng members 24. The members 24 are disposed longitudinally on each side of the chamber 11, a screen receiving member V24 upon one side being heldin spaced relation by means of a connecting rod 25a with respect to a screen supporting member 24 upon the opposite side of the chamber 11, and substantially as is illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings. The members 24 are preferably welded or otherwise secured to the still B; and the rods 25a extend be neath the screen 22 and transversely thereof for supporting the same, preventing any contact thereof with the bottom of the still B. The screen 22 vmay be readily detached from the hooked ends 24a for cleaning purposes.

The reflux condenser or vapor tower D 1s of novel formation, and has been provided for the dual purpose of condensing the heavier fraction in the vapor arising from the still B, and for preheating of a supply of crude hydrocarbon material for the still B. The reflux condenser D comprises a cylindrical case container 25 which is vertically positioned, having the bottom wall 26 there of provided with an opening 27 adapted to receive an inlet end of the vapor line 28. The container 25 is preferably so positioned above the still B that the vapor line 28 1nclines upwardly from the still B to the reflux condenser D. As is well known, the vapor line 28 communicates the chamber 11 of the still B with the chamber 29 of the reflux container 25 for the supply of hydrocarbon vapors to said chamber 29 after the destructive distillation of the hydrocarbonmaterial within the still B. The container 25 is vertically positioned, and the top wall 32 thereof is preferably provided with a man hole 83, whereby access may be had to the chamber 29 for cleaning purposes. A pipe line 34 leads from the container 25 adjacent the top wall 32; said line 34 preferably being vertically positioned for leading the lighter.

fraction from the container 25 to the condenser E, as will be more particularly set forth hereinafter. A valve 35'is preferably positioned within the line 34 adjacent its connection with the container 25 for regulating purposes. Since'the reflux condenser chamber 29 is of necessity in communication with the chamber 11 of the still B, considerable pressure will exist in the chamber 29, and to revent liability of accident a safety valve 37) is provided in the container 25 upwardly thereof. l

A line 40 for the supply' of crude hydrocarbon materials enters the reflux condenser chamber 29 from the top wall 32, and a portion -42 extends downwardly in straight line manner through the chamber 29 to a point adjacent the bottom wall 26. From this point, the pipe line 14 spirals upward with- 1n the chamber 29 in a plurality of convolutions 44 to a point adjacent the top wall 32. F rom this point, a portion 45 of fhe line 40 extends downwardly through the chamber 29 and diametrically opposite to the por- 'tion 42, said portion 45 extending through the bottom` wall 26, as at 47. F rom the point 47, the line 40 leads to the still B, and extends downwardly through the top thereof, having an outlet end 48 adjacent the. screen 22 of said still B. yA cut olf valve 49 may be provided in the line 40 immediately adjacent its connection with the still B. The line 40 has a. pressure pump .50 in communication therewith for the purpose of forcing hydro-carbon products therefrom through the reflux condenser D and into the still B, cooperation with the improved process in a manner which will be subsequently described A backrun line 52 is provided, connect/ed at its upper end to the lower end of the pipe line 34; said line 52 being preferably inclined from its connection with the line 34 to enter the. rear plate 19 of the still B; and is downturned within the chamber 11 of the still B to have an outlet 54 directly over the screen 22. This back run line 52 is provided for receiving condensed fractions of higher boiling point which condense wit-hin the line 34 intermediate the reflux condenser D and condenser E. A valve 55 is preferably provided in the vapor line 34 intermediate the connection of the back run line 52 therewith andl its connection with the condenser D; said valve 55 being either of the automatic or manually controlled type. The condenser E is of any preferred type and is provided for the well known purposes of condensing the lighter and more volatile fractions. The resultant hydro-carbon products flow from the condenser E through a line 57 into the gas separator F, where the volatile fraction in. liquid form is separated from the fixed or dry gases, and led through a line 59fto the liquid storage tank G. The fixed or dry gases exit from the gas separator F through a line 58, and may De directed through a line 60 into the gas fuel storage tank A valve 61 is preferably provided in the line 57 intermediate the condenser and separator. A valve 62 may also be provided in the liquid flow line 59. A meter 64 may also be provided in the line 59 for registering the number of gallons of the volatile gasoline distillate entering the storage tank G. A cut off valve 64'L may be provided in the gas exit line 58. Since in some instances it will be desirable to ylead the dry gases from the separator F to a location other than the storage tank H. the line 58 is continued beyond the connection of the tank line 60 therewith; a valve 67 being provided in this line 58, normally being closed in order to direct the fixed or dry gases into the storage tank H. A control valve 68 may likewise be provided in the tank line 60. Pressure valves 70 and 71 may be provided on the gas separator and gas storage tanks respectively, as' may also any accessories which are needed, such as a liquid' 'gauge 73 upon' the gas yseparator tank F.

An important feature ofthis invention resides in the fact that the drygases may be conveyed by a line 75 to the fire box 10 of the furnace C, for supplying afuel to the furnace C. A valve 76 may be provided for the line 75 for regulating the flow of gas therethrough. A drain line 7 7. is provided, having communication at one end with' the still B so that cylinder stock residuum maybe withdrawn from the chamber 11 and passed through the cooling box K. Suitable eX- pansion joints 78 may be provided in the line 77, as may valves 79V also be provided in lines 77 adjacent the still and cooling boxes respectively.

In operation, the initial supply of crude hydrocarbon material enters the still B through the storage line 12 until a predetermined quantity has entered as indicated by the meter 14. The valves in all of the plpe lines communicating with the still B, with the exception of the vapor line 28, are then closed and after heating of the still B by products of combustion from ignition of the fuel emanatin from the gas line 75, until destructive the chamber 11vapors arise into the vapor line 28 and are conveyed into the chamber `290i. the reflux condenser D. The linitial suppl of hydrocarbon materials in the cham er 11 will be diminished by vaporization and the. flow thereof to 'the vapor line 28, so tha-tin order to make the process continuous, it is necessary to have acontinuous flow of crude hydrocarbon material'into the chamber 11 of still B. This crude hydrocarbon material is supplied through the line 40 above described, the same being forced by umps '50 therethrough in volume indicated Ey the meter 80. This supply of hydrocarbon products inthe line 40 is unheated and will pass downwardly into the port-ion 42 of the line 40 within the chamber 29, and upwardly through the coil convolutions 44, said material within the line 40 making its exit through the downwardly extending pipe portion 45 for flow into the vstill B. Since the vapors entering the chamber 29 from the va or line 28 are'extremely hot and even un er pressure, it is obvious that the heavierv fraction of the vapor products will condensey within the chamber 29, due to contact against the coolin surface of the portions 42, 44 and 45 of t e pi-pe line 40 therein, this heavier fraction ofthe hydrocarbon vaporafter condensation dropping within the chambery 29 for return to the still chamber 11 through the vapor line 28.` v`The reflux condenser thus serves a dual funcistillation occurs within tion in that the heavier fraction is'condensed A from the vapors in the chamber 29, as is also the crude materialfflowing through the pipe line 40 preheated within the chamber 29, .prior to its flow into the still B; It is an important feature of the reflux condenser D that the vapors are entirely separated from any contact directly or indirectly with respect to the crude hydrocarbon liquid passing through the pipe line 40. The advantage of such arrangement lies in thc fact that there can be-nok association of the vapor and liquidmolecules to the detriment of thc lighter fraction passing through the chamber 29. The lighter fraction, which has not been condensed, then passes through the line 34 on its way to the condenser E. However, some of the lighter fraction will be condensed within the line 34 and will returnto the still B through the run back line 52 as above mentioned. The vapor products enterlng the condenser E are treated therein in the well known manner, so that the more volatile fraction is condensed and after passing. through the line 57, the gas and liquid constituents are separated and disposed respectively in the tanks H and G.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that a process for the refining of hydrocarbon materials has been provided, which while simple in operation is a continuous process, and will permit of operation over a relatively long period of time without undue deterioration or detrimental effect to any particular unit in the apparatus by which the process is effected. The screen 22 is animportant feature of this invention, in that the same will only permit vapor and hot oil to pass therethrough, and will catch andhold any carbon that settles thereon due to decomposition of the hydrocarbon material within the still B. In this manner, the life of the still B is prolonged far beyond the llife of the ordinary hydrocarbon materials.

Various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be made to the form ofthe invention herein shown and .described, without departing from the spirit of this invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In an ap aratus for refining hydrocarbon materia s the combination of a still, means for supplying a hydrocarbonl material to the still, a reflux condenser, means com still used in the distillation of loo municating the lower end of the reflux constill and having an outlet adjacent the bottom of the still.

2. Apparatus for the refining of hydrocarbon materials comprising a still, a screen carried Within the still at the bottom thereof, means for heating said still along said bottom of thestill, a condenser'` means between the condenserand the still for conveying vapor from the still to the condenser including a condenser, means for passing a fresh supply of hydrocarbon through said second mentioned condenser on its Way to said still, said last mentioned means having an outlet for the fresh supply of h drocarbon at the bottom of said st111 just a ove the screen therein, and a run' back line connected between said first `and second mentioned condensers for conveying condensed liquid to Within the Still at a point adjacent the bottom of the still just above the screen therein.

FRANK M. FLOYD. 

